Fabric spreader



May 26, 1936. LEWIS 2,042,010-

FABRIG SPREADER Filed Aug. 25, 1955 INVENTOR Arkhur P. Lewis I ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES e 2,042,010 e FABRIC srnmnnn.

Arthur P. Lewis, New Bedford, Mesa, assignor to The Firestone Tire' & Rubber Company Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 25, was, Serial No. 886,746

16 Claims.

This invention relates to fabric spreaders, and more especially it relates to spreading or tentering devices of the roller type adapted to laterally stretch and remove folds and wrinkles from continuous lengths of sheet material passing thereover.

The chief objects of the invention are to'pro- 'vide an improved tentering device of the character mentioned, that will be positive in its attion; that is of simple and economical construction; and that will not tear or harm the material on which it is operating. Other objectswill be manifest in the following specification.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved fabric spreader in inoperative association with sheet material from a supply-roll of the latter;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device in its preferred form, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the units from the end portions of the roll;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

v Figure 5 is a diametric section of one of the units from the medial portion of the roll;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the device, and the work in engagement therewith; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevation of one end portion of another embodiment of the invention. a

Referring to Figure 1'of the drawing, Ill isa roll of sheet material, such as fabric, and H is a sheet thereof, the roll l0 being mounted for rotation upon anaxial support l2. The improved tentering device, generally designated I3, is a rotatahly mounted roller structure that is disposed in proximity to the roll l0 and parallel thereto, said tentering roller being in the path of the sheet II as the latter is drawn onto or withdrawn from the roll l0 for laterally stretching said sheet to remove wrinkles and folds therefrom.

As is most clearly shown in Figure 2,.the tentering device comprises an axial shaft IS, a series of tentering units l6, l6 positioned in laterally abutting-relation centrally of said shaft, and respective series of tentering units-l1, l1 ofa dif- 'ferent type positioned in laterally abutting relation on the shaft at each end of the series of units It. The end portions of the shaft l5 are formed with journals, and the shaft is mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) in which it freely rotates. Both types of tentering units, It and",

are made of resilient soft rubber composition. Each tentering unit It consists of a structure comprising a hub portion lta, a frustoconical, work-engaging portion llib, and a frustoconical web l6c connecting the hub 'to the workengaging portion It!) at the small side of the latter as is most clearly shown in Figure 5. The work-engaging portion l8b is somewhat less in width than the hub Ilia, and it overhangs the latter, so that when a plurality of the units are mounted on the shaft l5-their hubs will be in laterally abutting relation and their work-engag- 10 ing portions will be in spaced relation to each other. The hub I; is formed with an axial aperture ltd to accommodate the shaft ii, there being suflicient friction between the hub and shaft to cause the unit normally to rotatepwith 15 the shaft. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the units It on one side of the middle of shaft l5 are reversed as compared to the units on theother side thereof, in each case the taper of the frusto-conical work-engaging portions lib being 20 toward the'middle of the shaft.

Each tenter ng unit l'I consists of a unitary structure comp ing a hub portion l'la, and a' plurality'of radial arms l'lb, l'lb integral therewith, each of said arms being generally triangu- 25 lar in shape and connected at one of itscorners to the hub lla, at one side of the latter. The arrangement is such that one side of each arm' l'lb is flush with a lateral face of the hub, the remainder of the arm beingdisposed in-overhangso ing relation to the hub and extending slightly beyond the Opposite lateral face of the hub,'-as is most clearly shown in Figure 4, The juncture of" each arm l'lb wth the hub [1a is relatively small,

and because of the overhanging arrangementdescribed, the arm is free to. flex, about said Juneture as a pivot, when radial pressure is applied to the outer face of the arm. The outer face of the arm "b, which is the face opposite the angle at its juncture with the hub, is somewhat oblique 40 with relation to the axis of the hub, and is serrated as shown at llc. The hubs, "a are formed with respective axial apertures lid to accommodate the Shaft l5.

The units l! are mounted upon the shaft l5 formed with a pair of diametrically opposed recesses He in one lateral face and a pair of complementally shaped and arranged lugs "I, I'll on its otherlateral face. the lugs of one unit being adapted to fit within the recesses of the adjacent unit to prevent relative angular move ment of the units. The units: l6, H are retained on the shaft l5 by a collar I 9 near one end thereof and a-washer 20 and nut 2i near the other end thereof, the shaft being locally threaded at 22 to receive said nut. The units l6, I! may be so'tightly clamped between the collar 19 and washer 20 as normally to be incapable of rotary.

movement with relation to the shaft, although the device will function satisfactorily if they do so move.

The operation of the device is best shown in Figure 6 wherein it will be seen that the sheet material II, in passing about the tentering roller l3, exerts such pressure-upon the work-engaging portions IBb of the units l6 and the arm Nb of units l! as to move said portions out of their normal positions. This the portions l6b are lo-- -cally deformed and the webs I60 flexed, andthe arms l'lb are flexed angularly about their narrow juncture with the hubs l'la, the arrangement being such that said flexing results in the moving of the work-engaging surfaces of the units I6, I! toward the respective ends of the shaft l5.

Because the units l6, II are made of rubber, and because of the serrated work-engaging surfaces of the arms "b, said units have good frictional engagement with the sheet material II, and the flexing of said units as described, by the sheet material as it passes thereover, causes said units progressively to urge said material laterally each way from its longitudinal center line, with the result that the sheet is smoothed and folds and wrinkles eliminated therefrom. Since the work does not extend completely around the .device I3, the tentering units are free to. resume their normal positions in that portion of device not in contactwith the work. The arrangement of the arms Hb in intercalatedrelation prevents' the marginal portions of the work from being pulled over the free ends of said arms.

, 'Iihe device is of simple and economical construction and is eflicient in its operation.' When the tentering units become worn or damaged they material passes, said structure having a straight axis comprising deformable tentering units that are deformed by said material, said-units having rubber .edges to contact said material for urging same laterally both ways from its middle by reason of said deformation.

2. A tentering device for sheet material consisting of a rotatable structure over which said material passes, said structure comprising tenwork-engaging arms, said hub portion and arms tering units composed of flexible arms having arcuate edges for engaging said sheet material, which units are so constructed as to be flexed by the sheet material passing thereover and in flexing to-urge said sheet material in opposite 5 directions from its middle. N

3. A tentering device consisting of av roller structure comprising an axial shaft, a plurality of tentering units in laterally juxtaposed relation on the respective end portions of the shaft, each of saidunits comprising yielding, overhanging, work-engaging the arms of each unit being intercalatedwith the arms of an adjacent unit,and means on each unit for preventing relative rotary movement of the units with relation 15 to each, other. I

4. A- tentering device consisting of a roller structure comprising an axial shaft, a plurality of tentering units disposed centrally on said shaft,

said units comprising yielding, annular work- 20 enga ing portions, and a plurality of tentering units disposed at the respective ends of said firstmenttoned units, the last-mentioned units comprising radial, yielding, work-engaging arms.

5. A tentering device consisting of a roller 25 structure comprising an axial shaft, a plurality of tentering units disposed centrally on said shaft, saidsunits comprising yielding, annular worlg-engaging portions, and a plurality of tentering units disposed at the respective ends of said so first-mentioned units, the last-mentioned units comprising radial, yielding, work-engaging arms, the arms of each unit being intercalated with the arms of an adjacent unit.

6. A tentering device consisting of a roller $1.3 structure comprising a plurality of work-engaging units of resilient material, each of said units comprising a frusto-conical work-engaging portion, a hubportion, and a frusto-conical w'eb connecting said portions.

7. A tentering device consisting of a roller structure comprising a plurality of workengaging units, each of said units compiasing an annular work-engaging portion, a hub .portion, and

a yielding, frusto-conical web connecting said 45 work-engaging portion to said hub portion.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7 in which the hub, web, and work-engaging portions are integral, and the web is connected to one lateral margin of the said work-engaging portion.

9. A tentering device consisting of a roller structure comprising a plurality of tentering units, each of saidunitslcomprising' a hub por tion and a plurality of generally, triangular being integral and composed of resilient material, the arms being attached to the hub at one of their comers.

10. A tentering device consisting of a roller 60 structure comprising a plurality of tentering units composed of resilient rubber, each of said units comprising a hub' portion, and a plurality of radial arms of generallytriangular shape secured to the hub portion atone of their corners, 65 the work-engaging sm'faces of the respective arms overhanging one lateral margin of the hub.

.ARTHUR P. LEWIS. 

